Cromarty Arts Trust will host a delightful evening of chamber music with some very strong local connections. For not only will the cellist in the group have made her mark already on the Black Isle, but the music performed will have very strong associations as well.
The cellist in the quartet, Sarah Spence, studied with Isobel Grant at Avoch Primary then Fortrose Academy before traveling down to Edinburgh to study with Pat Hair. Whilst studying at the City of Edinburgh Music School she met Emma Lloyd, together they formed the Apollo Quartet and played concerts to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland. Emma and Sarah are both studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where they formed the Eris Quartet 3 years ago. Kay Stephen, viola, is from Aberdeen studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Aaron McGregor is from Orkney and studied at Edinburgh University. Emma Lloyd in her final year at Manchester and Sarah Spence has studied with Gregor Horsch.

The Quartet have performed music by the Earl of Kelly and other Scottish composers from the 18th Century. As well as playing string quartets they performed trios with Aaron McGregor playing the continuo on the harpsichord. The Quartet was lucky enough to perform in St Cecilia’s Hall in Edinburgh where the Earl of Kelly himself performed over 200 years ago. After playing the same programme in Elie in Fife the quartet has been asked to perform at Kellie Castle where the composer was born. The Earl of Kelly also has strong connections with Inverness, where manuscripts of much of his music was found in Kilvarock castle in the 1980s. Without these precious manuscripts we would not have the string quartets or some of his piano trios as well as other wind music.